I Can Do Anything Good.

I took the GRE today.

And it went rather well.

There are too many possibilities.

Nostalgia.

You may have heard that I'm the Queen of Nostalgia.

You would be right.

Today, I'm nostalgic for

tennis.

Ah for the summer days

when I could spend all afternoon

lazing in the cool air conditioning

in front of the television

watching tennis.

Not just tennis.

Wimbledon.

The classy white outfits.

Not to mention the line judges' outfits.

The grass courts that get worn as the fortnight slips away.

Love-hate relationships with the announcers.

Rain delays.

I love it all.

It reminds me of so many good summers with my sister.

Oh to eat strawberries and cream

and watch the action
from Henman Hill.

I hadn't heard who the winner of Wimbledon 2012 was,

so I decided to look it up.

And I was amazed as I looked through the bracket--

it's all the same old names that I know and love.

Some names that I haven't thought of in years!

Roger Federer

Andy Murray

Novak Djokovic

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

Florian Mayer

Mikhail Youzhny

David Ferrer

Philipp Kohlschreiber

Richard Gasquet

Xavier Malisse

Juan Martin Del Potro

Marin Cilic

Mardy Fish

Radek Stepanek

Fernando Verdasco

Janko Tipsarevic

Andy Roddick

Ivo Karlovic

Jurgen Melzer

Jarkko Nieminen

Rafael Nadal

Lleyton Hewitt

Stanislas Wawrinka

Tommy Haas

This list makes me so happy.

Truck Drivin' Girl

I like road trips.

When I was little, I would get bored,

but now the hours and miles pass

and I like sitting still.

I like driving down a straight ribbon of highway

that stretches forever,

flying at 80 mph,

only worrying about passing semis.

I like the funny names of little towns 

that you read about on the reflective green signs.

I like reading about the funny little attractions they have

and stopping there on a whim.

They pronounce it Hurrikin.

I once went here.

I like seeing things you've never seen.

Like palm trees and Spanish-style houses

or red rocks.

I love seeing more of America,

of the unfettered, wide open West.

I love going and going

and ending up somewhere new.

Not a GRE word, but a definition nonetheless.

I am sassy.

via

sassy

noun

lively, bold, and full of spirit

cheeky

rude and disrespectful; impudent

jaunty

improperly forward or bold

"simple and sweet and sassy as can be"

Merit.

Last weekend, I watched Million Dollar Baby.

If you haven't seen it, do.

I had no idea. I thought it was going to be a feel-good sports movie.

But I loved many things about it,

not least

the lines that punch you in the gut,

the unlikely and beautiful love,

the gravel in Clint Eastwood's voice.

Um, can you believe this man is over 80 years old?

I tried to think about why I loved it so much,

and I think I figured out what gives it merit.

I love the emotions that it grapples with.

It makes you feel real things,

things you would never want to feel,

things that we've all felt.

This picture of Morgan Freeman represents emotions. Obviously.

The experience is actually worth the time it takes to watch it,

and I think that is rare.

Let us live to make men free.

Guys, I just really love America.

Last year, I said I couldn't love Independence Day the best because it's too commercialized.

But I've changed my tune.

How could I not love my country's national day more than anything else?

This year, I decided a couple of things.

1. All that you need to have a good Independence Day is

a pancake breakfast

and

this

and

this.

2. I have to vote.

I watched Iron Jawed Angels, about Alice Paul & the 19th Amendment.

Once upon a time, women couldn't vote.

And they went to jail, and went on hunger strikes, and fought and fought.

And you don't take lightly that kind of sacrifice

for that kind of freedom.

3. Fireworks make my heart swell with all the glory of the loftiest human triumphs.

I think they should make fireworks that blaze the shape of George Washington's head in the sky.

Right?

I like the gold ones the best.

4. I'm going to have a patriotic wedding.

No question.

No matter what time of year I get married.

Won't it just be the best?

5.I want to move to Washington, DC & be a yuppie.

Like, it needs to happen.

I'll work for the Smithsonian,

jaunt around eating sundry cuisine,

wearing Banana Republic,

participating in free patriotic events in our nation's capital.

And John Phillip Sousa marches will be my life's soundtrack.

As He died to make men holy,

let us live to make men free

while God is marching on!

The Good Life.

Today, I lived the good life.

Wedding dress shopping with a beautiful bride,

But Lizzie's way prettier than this.

penne rosa in a thick, delicious sauce from Noodles & Company,

If food is the best part of life (and I daresay it is) and sauces are the best part of food (and I daresay then are) then sauces are the best part of life.

cruising around in a Ford Windstar,

This is the one we had when I was a little kid.

a pirate shark beach towel from Walmart,

Mine has 3 sharks, not 4, and a pirate ship in the background.

Cajun food at dinner group with my favorite people,

S.I.M.P. (Squirrels in my pants),

How can I qualify for government grants?

doing the dishes whilst sharing headphones with Jessica,

Doing dishes with another person is my favorite. Especially when we listen to "You'll Be in My Heart (Pop Version)."

spontaneous trip to Coldstone with Crandall & Chelston,

Putting Heath bar in it is the best.

talking about why we love America whilst watching a parking lot fireworks show,

This scene from The Sandlot exemplifies my love for America.

kitchen dance party with Kimmie to celebrate our one year friend anniversary,

We danced to songs from Up.

and then running through the sprinklers.

Self, great day!